Daily Sprout

Josie Garthwaite

Mar. 15, 2010 - 3:02 PM PDT
Mar. 15, 2010 - 3:02 PM PDT

Toyota Takes on “Runaway” Prius Driver’s Claims: “Toyota Motor Sales on Monday challenged the contention of the driver of a Prius who said his car accelerated unintentionally March 8 while traveling on a freeway near San Diego,” saying it found in a preliminary analysis that the accelerator pedal, front brakes, power switch and other systems and components worked normally. — MarketWatch

Risks of Sector-by-Sector Climate Policy: Senators John Kerry and Lindsey Graham’s approach to crafting a compromise climate bill by, “applying different types of carbon limits to different sectors of the industry doesn’t just downplay the urgency of reducing emissions. Some economists say the sector-specific approach would be costlier to society and less efficient than an economy-wide approach.” — Solve Climate via The Hill

More Megawatts for First Solar: Thin-film solar giant First Solar has “struck a deal to sell a 30 megawatt power project to utility owner Southern Co and Ted Turner’s Turner Renewable Energy,” in New Mexico. — Reuters

SemaConnect Jumps Into EV Services Ring: Bootstrapped smart-charging SemaConnect has installed some of its first devices at the Loews Annapolis Hotel. “Users of the SemaConnect service will get a key fob that identifies their vehicle and authorizes access to a power outlet controlled by one of the firm’s devices; a wave of the device in front of a gray box logs a user on and keeps track of power usage. SemaConnect sends the owner a bill.” — Washington Post

Community Solar: “A new solution is springing up in pockets of the country” for renters who want to invest in solar installations. In community solar arrays, “the idea is that utilities build the arrays, and customers…can buy a share.” But some solar companies fear the scheme,”might compete for public subsidies with rooftop solar panel.” — NYT’s Green Inc.